Action in verbs like “prepare” is shown via present tense or the ‘now’; when something has already occurred, it is the past tense; and when it is going to, it is the future tense.
The word “prepare” as a verb defines the action of producing something for someone, whether as a gift or even just for their consideration of the said curated thing. With the aid of the appropriate conjugational forms like perfect, continuous, and perfect continuous, the action happens in the past and future tenses too.
This article has gone into further detail on the previously mentioned conjugations of the verb “prepare”. Let us explore a slight bit more.
Prepare in present tense
The present tense is used to describe actions that take place now or in a regular manner. Let us look at how a verb like “prepare” functions in this precise tense.
The simple present tense of “prepare” is used as “prepares” or as “prepare” which happens to be its most basic form. When in the present continuous tense, it changes into ‘is/are preparing’; in present perfect tense into ‘has/have prepared’; in the present perfect continuous tenses it becomes ‘has/have been preparing’.
The present participle of this verb is also its base form. The present participle form is used in the present perfect tense. Various inflections, modal verbs, and/or auxiliary verbs are used to illustrate its additional conjugational forms, which are highlighted above.
When can “prepare” be used in the present tense?
The verb “prepare” can be employed in the present tense when someone curates anything for someone else or expressly for their consideration during a time that is ongoing and present, and depending on its conjugational form, this action can be shown as a simple, continued, or completed action.
Examples of “prepare” are used in different present-tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We prepare gift baskets to be sold to people who are in a crunch and do not know what gifts to buy their loved ones. 2. You prepare gift baskets to be sold to people who are in a crunch and do not know what gifts to buy their loved ones. 3. He/She prepares gift baskets to be sold to people who are in a crunch and do not know what gifts to buy their loved ones. 4. They prepare gift baskets to be sold to people who are in a crunch and do not know what gifts to buy their loved ones. | In the four examples provided, we can see how the verb “prepare” is used in the simple present tense and how various types of pronouns give it a singular or plural character according to standard grammar norms. The verb’s base form is used to highlight the simple present tense component of this sentence, which shows that the action of making something for someone else to consider is simply taking place at the moment. |
| 1. I am preparing for the most important math exam in this country which is now only five days away. 2. We are preparing for the most important math exam in this country which is now only five days away. 3. You are preparing for the most important math exam in this country which is now only five days away. 4. He/She is preparing for the most important math exam in this country which is now only five days away. 5. They are preparing for the most important math exam in this country which is now only five days away. | The base form of the verb, which consists of the inflectional suffix ‘-ing’ at the end highlights the present continuous tense aspect in this sentence by showing how the action of constructing something for someone else’s consideration is progressing. As one can observe from these examples, auxiliary verbs such as ‘is’, ‘am’, and ‘are’ have been situated before the phrase “preparing” based on the pronoun that qualifies them and amply demonstrates their present tense nature. |
| 1. I/We have prepared a recipe that has been in the family for seven generations. 2. You have prepared a recipe that has been in the family for seven generations. 3. He/She has prepared a recipe that has been in the family for seven generations. 4. They have prepared a recipe that has been in the family for seven generations. | The past participle form of the verb is “prepared” and it serves as a clear indication that the conjugational variety in this case is the present perfect tense. To emphasise the verb’s present nature, auxiliary verbs like ‘have’ and ‘has’, depending on the type of noun they qualify, have been used before it. Making something for someone else’s consideration is an action that requires completion, and the present auxiliary verbs and past participle together give the completed phrase this quality. This quality is what distinguishes the present perfect tense from other forms. |
| 1. I/We have been preparing some tomato soup for supper-time. 2. You have been preparing some tomato soup for supper-time. 3. He/She has been preparing some tomato soup for supper-time. 4. They have been preparing some tomato soup for supper-time. | As can be seen in these statements, the action of creating something for someone else’s consideration appears to have started in the past and is still in progress in the present when elements of the present continuous tense and present perfect tense combine and create the present perfect continuous tense. The auxiliary verbs ‘have’ and ‘has’, which are used in conjunction with the respective pronouns or in some cases even nouns, clearly demonstrate the present tense nature. The use of the modal word “been,” which lends the phrase a sense of wholeness, demonstrates the perfect quality. Finally, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preparing” highlights the quality of continuity. |
Prepare in past tense
The past tense refers to an action that took place at a period of time that is now past or has already passed. Let us look at how to use the verb “prepare” in this unique tense.
As far as the past tense is concerned the verb “prepare” changes from its base form to the inflectional form “prepared”. When used in the past continuous tense, it becomes ‘was/were preparing’, in the present perfect tense, ‘had prepared’, and ultimately, in the present perfect continuous tense, ‘had been preparing’.
The general past participle form is the same as the simple past tense form. Various inflections, modal verbs, and/or auxiliary verbs are used to illustrate its additional conjugational forms, which are highlighted above.
When can “prepare” be used in the past tense?
The verb “prepare” can be used in the past tense along with its conjugational forms of showcasing a simple, continued, or completed action when a person or an entity took the time to make something for someone else’s consideration for any reason in a time that has already gone and has passed them.
Examples of “prepare” are used in different past tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We prepared a song to sing for the entire family at today’s gathering. 2. You prepared a song to sing for the entire family at today’s gathering. 3. He/She prepared a song to sing for the entire family at today’s gathering. 4. They prepared a song to sing for the entire family at today’s gathering. | The multiple examples over here show how the word “prepared” is used in the simple past tense and how differing pronoun types have no bearing on the verb’s meaning because it always takes the past participle form. The verb’s past participle form, which ends with the inflectional suffix “-ed,” is used to highlight the simple past tense component of this sentence. It also illustrates how the action of making something for someone else’s consideration is simply occurring during a time that has already passed. |
| 1. I was preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. 2. We were preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. 3. You were preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. 4. You all were preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. 5. Mira was preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. 6. They were preparing a speech for the big lecture the next day when someone knocked loudly on my door. | The base form of this particular verb, which ends in the inflectional suffix “-ing,” stresses the past continuous tense feature of this sentence by showing how the action of constructing something for someone else’s consideration occurred through time in a progressive way. As one can see from these example phrases, auxiliary verbs like ‘was’ and ‘were’ have been added before the word “preparing” based on the pronoun that qualifies them which subsequently demonstrates their past tense nature. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had prepared to give up the adorable cat they had adopted just a couple months ago. | The past participle form of the verb “prepared”, which by itself gives the sentence a sense of completion, serves as the clearest indication of the conjugational variety, which is the past perfect tense. Prior to the verb, the auxiliary verb ‘had’ has been used to emphasize the past tense nature of this verb. It is the quality of completion regarding the action of creating something for someone else’s consideration at a time that has already passed that makes the past auxiliary verb and the obvious past participle together give the full term the designation of past perfect tense. |
| 1. I/We/You//He/She/They had been preparing for the big play that was coming up as a part of the school’s annual function. | As shown through these example texts, the action of creating something for someone else’s consideration appeared to have started in the past and continued to progress in the past itself. Past perfect continuous tense is created when elements of the past continuous tense and past perfect tense blend. The auxiliary verb ‘had’, which is used in agreement with the respective pronouns, clearly indicates that the sentence is in the past tense. The use of the modal word ‘been’ which lends the phrase a sense of wholeness, demonstrates the perfect quality. Last but not least, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preparing” demonstrates the quality of continuity. |
Prepare in future tense
The future tense refers to an action that is planned to happen soon or in the distant future. Let us continue learning about the future tense of the verb “prepare.”
The verb “prepare” is shown in the future tense with the term ‘will/shall prepare’. Changes in the verb’s conjugational forms are shown with the past continuous tense ‘will be preparing’, the present perfect tense ‘will have prepared’, and last of all the present perfect continuous tense ‘will have been preparing’.
The inclusion of modal verbs like “will” and “shall” give this verb form the attribute of being in the future tense, even when the main verb remains in its base form. The past participle form is used in the future perfect tense.
When can “prepare” be used in the future tense?
The future tense of a verb like “prepare” can be employed when the user of the word needs to showcase a person, or any form of entity for that matter of fact to be creating something for the purpose of presenting said created object to someone else in a time that is yet to arrive, be it in a short or long while.
Examples of “prepare” are used in different future tense forms.
| Example Sentences | Explanations |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall prepare a bunch of cheese sandwiches for the trip tomorrow. | The present participle of the verb “prepare” is employed in the simple future tense in the four instances provided. The use of modal verbs like ‘will’ and ‘shall’, which convey that the process of constructing something for someone else’s consideration is merely going to happen during a time that has not yet arrived, highlights the simple future tense feature in this sentence. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall be preparing the boy for his big entrance test that is coming up. | The base form of the verb, which ends in the inflectional suffix “-ing,” illustrates the future continuous tense aspect here by showing how the process of constructing something for someone else’s consideration is happening gradually in a future time period. As one can see from these examples, the word “preparing” has been put after the modal verb ‘be’, which furthers the future progressive aspect of the given sentence. Future tense expressions must always be made with the modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have prepared a presentation to show in front of the board of directors which shall convince them to provide more funding for our project. | It is clear from the usage of the past participle form of the verb in question which is “prepared”, that the conjugational variety in this case is the future perfect tense. To emphasize the completed quality of the verb as far as the perfect tense characteristics are concerned, the auxiliary verb ‘have’ has been used before it. The auxiliary verb and the past participle coupled with the modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ end up giving the entire sentence a sense of completeness with relation to the act of making something for someone else’s consideration, which is ultimately what makes it the future perfect tense. |
| 1. I/We/You/She/They will/shall have been preparing the animals at the circus to perform their marvellously entertaining tricks as the tickets for the show are going to be released soon. | As can be seen in these sentences, the future perfect continuous tense is created when elements of the future perfect tense and future continuous tense combine. This is because the action of making something for someone else’s consideration is foreseen to start at some point in the future and continue in the future itself, be it in the short-term or even long-term future. The modal verbs ‘will’ and ‘shall’ prove that the sentence is in the future tense. The use of the other modal verb ‘been’, which gives the statement a sense of completeness and demonstrates the perfect tense quality. Finally, the progressive suffix form “-ing” added to the end of “preparing” highlights the quality of continuation. |
Conclusion
As can be seen, a verb like “prepare” can have a variety of forms thanks to modal and auxiliary verbs as well as inflectional forms, which compensate for the verb’s many conjugation versions in the three different tenses and sub-tenses.
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